WDHA’s 2-Minute Drill – Can the Jets and Giants Handle Tough Opening Schedules

Jim Monaghan and Chris Swendeman, the Junior Executive Producer bring you the 2-Minute Drill every Friday morning here at 105.5 WDHA.

The New York Giants and New York Jets face tough opponents in their season-opening games this weekend.

JIM MONAGHAN - Time for the two minute drill here at 105.5 WDHA. I'm Jim Monahan along with Chris Swendeman. Swendeman, the NFL regular season got underway last night with the Lions and Chiefs. And we've got the Giants and Jets with their home openers this weekend. I'm looking at the schedules. I could easily see both teams going 4-2 in their first six games or 2-4. This is a wild season coming up.
CHRIS SWENDEMAN - Yeah, it's crazy, Jim. And the AFC East and the NFC East divisionally play each other, so there's a lot of intersection this year. The Jets are going to be playing a lot of the teams the Giants play in division, and the Giants are going to be playing a lot of teams from the AFC East. Both teams have a really tough road out of the gate. The first six, seven games are brutal. The Jets have an ugly schedule, but I can really see with Aaron Rodgers I put more faith in Aaron Rodgers being able to pull off and the Jets defense being able to pull off a 4-2 record before I see the Giants. I see the Giants maybe pulling off 3-3 or a 2-4.

JM - Jets are definitely being improved this year. Even at 75% of what he's been in the past, Rodgers makes a big difference. Their first eight games - Bills, at Dallas, Patriots, Chiefs at home, at the Broncos, Eagles at home, at the Giants. It's technically a home game, whatever. And then the Chargers. So they've got their work cut out for them. It's a very tough schedule. The Giants, on the other hand, I love the fact that they're opening up at home with the Cowboys. I think that's a great matchup. And I think we get a true test to see how good they are. Then they face the Cardinals on the road, the 49ers on the road. They're home for the Seahawks, on the road against the Dolphins. I have no idea how good the Dolphins will be this year. They're in Buffalo against the Bills, then home for the Commanders and the Jets. Both of these teams, Chris, play in arguably two of the toughest divisions in the NFL. They've got their work cut out.
CS - Absolutely, Jim. I totally...I can't agree with you more. You know what is the really crazy part of this? By the time the Jets and Giants meet in late October, how crazy is it to think one of these teams could be knocking the other one out of playoff contention by then because you know they just went through a brutal first stretch of the season. How crazy is that to think that that actually could be a possibility?

JM - Cowboys, Giants, MetLife Stadium on Sunday. You've got the Bills and the Jets, MetLife Stadium Monday night, and that's DHA's 2-Minute drill here on the Morning Jolt. Thanks, Swendeman.
CS - You got it, Jim. Have a great weekend and enjoy the games.

Football fans are gearing up for the upcoming NFL season. Some fans are so passionate that their enthusiasm borders on religious fervor. And yes, they pray for their team.  Beyond their prayers, they also have some superstitions. You know the types: they go barechested in zero degree weather and paint themselves in their favorite team's colors. Their mood for the week depends on if their team won or lost. There are fans and then there devout believers.  Those are the ones who get a bit too superstitious.

You know that person who stays in the same spot throughout an entire game, and when their team gives up possession they change positions? That's who we're talking about. So, when things are going well, they're practically immobile. They won't step away for food or even use the bathroom. Why? Because they can’t risk "messing up the flow." On the other hand, if things are not going as planned, they might wander around the living room persistently in search of a lucky seat where good things could potentially happen. Of course, for some fans, their ritualistic and superstitious behaviors might just be traditions, regardless of whether their team comes out on top or experiences a loss.

From wearing a specific jersey to eating a particular snack, these rituals are believed to bring luck and influence the game. For instance, some fans might have a lucky pre-game routine, like wearing mismatched socks or doing a little victory dance before kickoff. Even food choices play a role, with some fans only eating certain foods while watching the game, like nachos or chicken wings, believing that deviating from this menu might lead to bad luck. It's these quirky and often amusing superstitions that add an extra layer of excitement to the football fan experience.

Take a look at a few of these superstition-filled traditions that football fans have been sharing on Reddit.

For some fans, the belief in "jersey power" is real, relying on their chosen jersey to bring their team to victory. A Reddit user revealed, "I change jerseys every game. Never wear the same one twice in a row." They mentioned that during one season, the Jaguars secured a 3-1 record when following this practice, but experienced a 0-12 record when they didn't.

Some fans unquestionably take their rituals to the extreme. During Vince Young's playing days, a Redditor mentioned that they used to perform a rather unconventional practice of burning a photo of the player. They would attach a picture of his face to a Barbie doll and place it on the grill as part of their ritual.

This particular approach might come across as a bit harsh, yet it seems to show results for this person. Apparently, ignoring their wife and kid during the game is their strategy. "I know it's weird and the results haven't been great, but I'm not going to risk it," they wrote. Priorities, dude!

Some say that dissecting your superstitions like a science can work wonders. A Reddit user shared their approach, saying that if, for some reason, they tune into the game late and the Ravens are in the lead, they turn the game off. "Watching will only swing the game in the opposite direction. It's like the Heisenberg Principle of quantum football mechanics. Intense observation will only change the outcome," they humorously explained. That's dedication!

Having a lucky seat or a designated sweet spot to park yourself during every football game is a ritual many fans swear by. According to one person, during game days, they make a point to occupy the exact same barstool. They mentioned, "Everyone has assigned seats at the bar."

Some hardcore football fans throw hygiene to the wind. A Reddit user opened up about their peculiar belief. If they don't shower right before the game, they're convinced the Eagles will end up on the losing side. They added, "Sometimes if we had a crappy first half, I'll take another shower, for a fresh start."

Luck can take some interesting forms, like the practice of counting things a specific number of times. A person mentioned that on game days, they apply three strokes of deodorant per armpit in support of Russell Wilson. Some people are all about the idea that stuff tends to go down in threes.